Image forming apparatus

Abstract

An image forming apparatus includes: an image forming section which forms normal images on sheets sequentially based on normal image data and forms sample images on sheets based on sample image data; a discharge section which discharges normal image sheets in a stack which are sheets on which the normal images were formed and sample image sheets which are sheets on which the sample images were formed; and a control section which is configured to control at least one of the image forming section and the discharge section to discharge the normal image sheets in the stack and the sample image sheets to the discharge section so as to enable timings at which the sample image sheets were discharged to be appreciated in the stacked normal image sheets.

1. An image forming apparatus comprising:
 an image forming section which forms normal images on sheets sequentially based on normal image data and forms sample images on a sheet based on sample image data; 
 a discharge section which discharges normal image sheets in a stack which are sheets on which the normal images were formed and sample image sheets which are sheets on which the sample images were formed; and 
 a control section which is configured to control at least one of the image forming section and the discharge section to discharge the normal image sheets in the stack and the sample image sheets to the discharge section so as to enable timings at which the sample image sheets were discharged to be appreciated in the stacked normal image sheets, 
 wherein the control section is configured to control the discharge section to discharge the normal image sheets and the sample image sheets to an identical discharge destination so that the sample image sheets protrude from the normal image sheets in the stack at the identical discharge destination, and 
 wherein the control section is configured to control the image forming section to form the sample image at a protruding portion in each of the sample image sheets which protrudes from the stacked normal image sheets. 
 
     
     
       2. The image forming apparatus described in  claim 1 , wherein the control section is configured so that the sample image sheets are discharged with an orientation different from an orientation of the normal image sheets. 
     
     
       3. The image forming apparatus described in  claim 2 , wherein the control section is configured to control the image forming section to form the sample image on a sheet of which orientation is different from an orientation of the sheets on which the normal images are to be formed, thereby discharging the sample image sheets with the orientation different from the orientation of the normal image sheets. 
     
     
       4. The image forming apparatus described in  claim 1 , wherein the control section is configured to control the discharge section to discharge the normal image sheets and the sample image sheets with shifting relatively each other. 
     
     
       5. An image forming apparatus comprising:
 an image forming section which forms normal images on sheets sequentially based on normal image data and forms sample images on a sheet based on sample image data; 
 a discharge section which discharges normal image sheets in a stack which are sheets on which the normal images were formed and sample image sheets which are sheets on which the sample images were formed; and 
 a control section which is configured to control at least one of the image forming section and the discharge section to discharge the normal image sheets in the stack and the sample image sheets to the discharge section so as to enable timings at which the sample image sheets were discharged to be appreciated in the stacked normal image sheets, 
 wherein the control section is configured to control the discharge section to discharge the normal image sheets to a first discharge destination and the sample image sheets to a second discharge destination and, when each sample image sheet is discharged to the second discharge destination, further to discharge a timing sheet to the first discharge destination which indicates a timing when the sample image sheet was discharged. 
 
     
     
       6. The image forming apparatus described in  claim 5 , a type of the timing sheet is different from the normal images sheets.